The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-09-13


After the hunt Barker remained at the Clag-
gets over night "to eat his share of the veni-
son, as the captain iovially put it. To her
admirer Lucy vouchsafed only few words
that seemed quite lost under a chilling cere-
moniOusness of manner. Barker wondered
and alter supper waylaid her III the hallway,
saying;
II wonder how I can have offended? /
know something is wrong"
"Im not aware of being offcndcd-mysclf,'
she said grandly, yet with compunctious
inward Jingle.
Her sercnely cool manner baffied him. Then
Mrs. Claggctt called her daughter, and Lucy
sailed away with n sweeping courtesy, her
dark, red hair rejecting the CLINT of the fire
light.
The next morning Barker fingered on
Something was on his mind, and while the
captain sat smoking, with his feet pcrched as
usual on the piazza railing lie said, after a
long silence:
Captain, there is something wish to speak
to you about today"
The captain emitted huge volumes Of smoke,
while Barker hesitatcd, proceeding 50 unusual
with him that the former at length said with
blunt cordially:
"Plain sailing, the sailors say. soonest leads
to port. So out With it, Barker, if it concerns
me-"
"You have no doubt observed my attentions
to Miss Claggett. My future happiness has
now become o strongly involved in their
! desire-''
"You want to marry her suproso?' % inter
ruptcd the captain, blowing out a cloud Of
smoke that must have completely filed him
from the waist up.
II love her, captain" returned Barker in a
slightly tremulous tone.
A silence ensued, during which tho planter
smoked ON, while Barker watched his features ;
but lie might as well have observed stone as
far as expression went. Meanwhile our tramD
ia al
lazily whiting. a noise OF approaching hOols
was heard, and two men appeared in sight,
riding through the pines.
darker" said the captain, suddenly, "we'll
talk this over at another time. I'll be frank
with you: You are northemer, and don .
know yet whether to like that in a son-n-laW
or not, but you seem to be q square man and Il
good neighbor, and these are two things do
like powerful we'll"
Tom Cheeycr and o tall, narrOw-eyed man,
with a heavy chin beard now walked up the
steps. Barker was introduced by Captain
Claggett to "Maior league, our sheriff, and y
| id good sheriff too"
Whcreat the sheriff smiled, said "howdy,"
and leisurely picked some very large yellow
teeth with pine splinter, while his eye ~an-
dcred toward the tramp, who now tackled iaziiy
across the yard toward the piazza. Chceycr
vas restless and avoided Barker both by word
and look.
After q few moments chat over various
county matters suggested by Major leagues
presence, the latter turned 10 Barker and said
in q dry, UDemphasZed tone:
"Wcre lookjn' NJ brother o. your'n, Mr..
Barker ! got letter from the pcrlice at Osh-
kosh, Wisconsin, inQirin' after him and you.
It's an old case OF assault with intent 10 kill,
and-it did Kill. Your brother leaked ont and,
from what them thar perlice say, reckon he
come 20 DO common tramp. Sorry TO say
this, Mr.. Barker, but truths truth, and thars
worse behind. These here perlice have studied
over the case purity considibe, and a. they
haven't been able to find your brother they
may want-you."
"Me!" exclaimed Barker, with a rising color
| he could not repress.
| The captain had looked on In silent wonder